Momentary impulse control

ABSTRACT

A momentary impulse control for fragmentary rotation of the drive motor of an electro-mechanical device such as an adding machine comprising a grounded electrical receptacle for the outlet cord of the electro-mechanical device, and outlet cord from the receptacle to a source of electricity, and an impulse control in one of the lines of the receptacle outlet cord including a toggle switch and a normally off, two point pushbutton switch. A variable rheostat may be wired in the one line. A fuse or circuit breaker may be inserted in the other of the receptacle outlet lines. One or more additional controls may be wired in parallel to the first control for additional electromechanical devices.

United States Patent Arave 51 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] MOMENTARY IMPULSE CONTROL [72] Inventor: Clairmont D. Arave, 224 Main St.,

- Chadron, Nebr. 69337 221 Filed: Nov. 13,1970 [2!] Appl.No.: 89,282

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,536,976 10/1970 Briskman et al ..318/443 Primary Examiner-Herman J. Hohauser Attorney-Keith Misegades and George R. Douglas, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A momentary impulse control for fragmentary rotation of the drive motor of an electro-mechanical device such as an adding machine comprising a grounded electrical receptacle for the outlet cord of the electro-mechanical device, and outlet cord from the receptacle to a source of electricity, and an impulse control in one of the lines of the receptacle outlet cord including a toggle switch and a normally off, two point pushbutton switch. A variable rheostat may be wired in the one line. A fuse or circuit breaker may be inserted in the other of the receptacle outlet lines. One or more additional controls may be wired in parallel to the first control for additional electromechanical devices.

Patented Aug. 22, 1972 3,686,508

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNl/ENTOR CLAIRMONT D. ARAVE MOMENTARY IMPULSE CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to electrical controls employed in the testing and maintenance of electromechanical devices such as adding machines and calculators, and particularly to a momentary electrical impulse control for fragmentary rotation of the control motor of such a device to avoid the necessity of hand cranking the armature of the motor of the electromechanical device.

When testing a calculator such as an electromechanical adding machine, cash register, or calculator, it is necessary to assure that the interrelationship of movable mechanical parts is extremely exact for proper operation of the device, even though movement of any of a number of individual mechanical parts might be imperceptibly minute. For example, in one type of adding machine, the zero stops of the machine must drop into the accumulator unit thereof when the main drive shaft has rotated forwardly on its axis a precise number of degrees, no more and no less. Only in this way is the machine prevented from cumulatively adding until the next successive addition integers have been fed into the machine from the keyboard.

While the drive motor rotates approximately 1,200 to 1,500 revolutions per minute, the rotation of the drive shaft is geared down so that its movement is almost imperceptible. In the example given, thecurrent practice is to hand crank the armature of the motor to the desired degree position through 200 to 600 revolutions depending upon the position in which .the drive shaft is found when testing of the machine occurs. Obviously, hand cranking is both tiresome and time-consuming, but in the current state of the art, this is the only method available.

The instantinvention overcomes this problem by providing a momentary impulse switch which can be used to electrically rotate the armature of the motor the required number of rotations to bring'the calculator drive shaft to the desired position. The machine may then be turned on for normal operation, after any necessary adjustment, without disconnecting the invention, so that the adjustments made may be checked. If the adjustments have been inadequate, then the machine may be turned off again, without any disconnection of the invention, for further minute rotation of the calculator or adding machine, by the impulse means of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION delivering momentary electrical impulses to the receptacle when the on-off switch is off. The push button switch is rendered inoperable when the on-off switch is on. A fuse or circuit breaker may be wired to the device, and a rheostat may be provided in the receptacle outlet cord to vary the amount of electricity transmitted to the electro-mechanical device. The invention may include one or more additional electrical receptacles for simultaneous testing of a plurality of electromechanical devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Details of construction and operation according to preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention with parts broken away to show interior detail;

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram for the invention shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an alternate wiring diagram for the invention;

FIG. 4 is yet another alternate wiring diagram;

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view of the interior of an electro-mechanical adding machine, showing disposition of parts for testing purposes, and illustrated as an example of the application of the instant invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, with parts in an alternate position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the adding machine as shown in FIG. 5, with the invention attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings by reference character, the invention 10 is shown comprising a case 12 having a receptacle 14, which may be grounded at 16, for receiving outlet line plug 18 of outlet line 20 of an electro-mechanical device 22 which is to be tested (FIG. 7). One Wire 24 of the invention 10 is wired through a fuse or circuit breaker 26, which serves its usual purpose of preventing damage to the device 22 being tested, in the event of a short circuit or overload. Wire 24 is attached to one terminal 28 of the receptacle 14. The other wire 30, attached to the other terminal 32 of receptacle 14, is wired to one terminal 33 of a two-point, make-break pushbutton switch 34, normally spring urged upwardly to an off or inoperative position. Wire 31 continues from terminal 33 to one terminal 36 of a toggle switch 38. The remaining terminal 40 of pushbutton switch 34 is wired at 42 to remaining terminal 44 of toggle switch 38, and continues out through case 12. Of course, wires 24, 42 and ground wire 16 are bundled into a cord (not shown) and connected through a suitable three-way plug to a source of electricity, such as 110 volts AC, and to a ground (not shown).

As stated previously, the primary purpose of the invention is to deliver small impulses of electricity to an electro-mechanical device for testing purposes; this is accomplished by momentary depression of push-button I switch 34 when toggle switch 38 is in an oftposition, to

deliver impulses to terminals 28 and 32 of receptacle 14. On the other hand, when testing by this method has been completed, toggle switch 38 may be moved to an on position, thereby rendering pushbutton switch 34 inoperative, to check the testing of device 22 by normal steady current, without removing the invention 10.

The wiring diagram of FIG. 2 shows how the above is accomplished. Current from wire 24 passes through fuse or circuit breaker 26 to one terminal 28 of receptacle 14. When toggle switch 38 is off, as shown in FIG. 2, current passes through wire 42 to terminal 40 of pushbutton switch 34. Only when pushbutton switch 34 is depressed does current continue to wire 30 and terminal 32 of receptacle 14. On the other hand, when toggle switch 38 is on, current from line 42 passes to line 31 and to terminal 32, efiectively bypassing pushbutton switch 34 so that the device 22 may be operated under normal conditions.

As shown in FIG. 3, a rheostat 46 may be inserted in line 42 to further vary the electrical energy received by device 22 when either pushbutton switch 34 is activated, or when toggle switch 38 is on. FIG. 4 indicates a second invention wired together with the original, for simultaneous or partially simultaneous testing of multiple devices 22. Obviously, several of such units may be wired together, and the operating current may be 110 volts A.C., 220 volts A.C., or any other voltage load desired or required.

FIGS. 5 through 7 indicate, as illustrative of the many applications of the invention, the testing of an electro-mechanical device 22 in the form of an adding machine. The primary calculator drive shaft 48 has a control cam 50 mounted thereon. The angular position of cam 50, 186 with respect to a normal rest position, indicates that hammer print latch 52 is about to begin a print. At the same time, a restoring latch 54 has been released to allow the print operation to proceed. Again, the invention may be used to crank the machine to this position, obviating the tiresome efl'ort of handcranking the machine to the desired status.

In FIG. 7, cam 50 has rotated a little farther so that stud 56 on cam 50 raises restoring latch 54 thereby moving arm 58 rearwardly so that the print section of the machine may fire. When cam 50 has rotated to the position indicated by FIG. 6, then latch 60 (FIG. 5) has moved upwardly and rearwardly, the print section has fired, and arm 62 (FIG. 5) has also moved rearwardly so that the zero stop of the calculator will engage (not shown) thereby permitting the add wheels to mesh with the addition racks of the machine so that upon return to a normal position, the machine is allowed to accumulate the figur being added. Of course, if the zero stop does not properly engage, the calculator will not function properly. The invention is employed to rotate or move parts to the positions explained. Once it is assured that all parts are located normally, toggle switch 38 may be moved to an on position, thereby deactivating pushbutton control 34, so that the calculator may be operated a few times to check any adjustments. At the same time, the calculator may remain plugged into the invention. If the machine does not operate properly, toggle switch 38 may be moved to an off position and the machine 22 may be incrementally operated by depression of switch 34 as outlined above. The process may be repeated as often as necessary until repairs have been completed.

Many other applications of the instant invention are possible; therefore the foregoing is given only as an illustration. Of course, the various parts 22 of the calculator shown and described form no part of this invention. The following claims indicate the breadth and limit of the invention.

I c arm:

1. A momentary impulse control for controlled fragmentary rotation of the drive motor of an electromechanical device comprising:

a. an electrical receptacle for the outlet-line of the device;

b. an outlet cord from the receptacle to a source of electricity; and

c. momentary electrical impulse means in in one of the wires in the receptacle outlet cord comprising: 1. an ori-off switch; and 2. a normally off two-point make-break switch for selectively delivering momentary electrical impulses to the receptacle and electro-mechanical device, operable when the on-ofi' switch is in an off position, wherein the two-point make-break switch is a twopoint, pushbutton switch, spring urged to a normally off position.

2. The-invention as recited in claim 1 wherein the momentary impulse control further includes a second electrical receptacle, for the outlet line of a second electro-mechanical device, and wired in parallel to said outlet cord, and a second momentary electrical impulse means in the wiring of the second receptacle. 

1. A momentary impulse control for controlled fragmentary rotation of the drive motor of an electro-mechanical device comprising: a. an electrical receptacle for the outlet line of the device; b. an outlet cord from the receptacle to a source of electricity; and c. momentary electrical impulse means in in one of the wires in the receptacle outlet cord comprising:
 1. an on-off switch; and
 2. a normally off two-point make-break switch for selectively delivering momentary electrical impulses to the receptacle and electro-mechanical device, operable when the on-off switch is in an off position, wherein the two-point make-break switch is a two-point, pushbutton switch, spring urged to a normally off position.
 2. a normally off two-point make-break switch for selectively delivering momentary electrical impulses to the receptacle and electro-mechanical device, operable when the on-off switch is in an off position, wherein the two-point make-break switch is a two-point, pushbutton switch, spring urged to a normally off position.
 2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein the momentary impulse control further includes a second electrical receptacle, for the outlet line of a second electro-mechanical device, and wired in parallel to said outlet cord, and a second momentary electrical impulse means in the wiring of the second receptacle. 